What to Do with LEGO Sets After Building?

Smart, Creative, and Practical Ways to Enjoy Your LEGO Beyond the Build

You’ve spent hours—maybe even days—meticulously assembling a LEGO set, brick by brick. The final piece clicks into place, and you lean back to admire your creation. But then comes the inevitable question:

Now what?

Do you proudly display it? Carefully take it apart to save space? Or dive right back in and rebuild it into something entirely new?

The beauty of LEGO is that the journey doesn’t end at the last instruction step. In this guide, we explore what you can do after the build—from stunning display ideas to clever storage, creative rebuilds, and more.

1. Display Options: Let Your Builds Shine

Sometimes, the best thing to do with a LEGO set is simply show it off. Here's how to turn your builds into eye-catching decor:

🖼️ Showcase Completed Sets

• Place models on shelves, bookcases, or in dedicated display cases

• A great way to add personality to living rooms, bedrooms, or offices

• Use floating shelves or LEGO’s own brick-style shelves for small builds and minifigs

• For large or collector sets, acrylic or glass display cases offer protection with a sleek finish

🔧 Wall or Ceiling Displays

• Suspend planes, spaceships, or custom builds (MOCs) from the ceiling for dynamic flair

• Use secure hooks and wire systems to keep models safe and stable

• Ideal for saving floor or shelf space and turning your collection into art

💡 Create a Dedicated Display Zone

• Build out a specific LEGO area with themed shelving and LED lighting

• Works especially well for modular buildings, Star Wars, or Technic themes

• Perfect for those planning a full LEGO room or rotating display area

2. Storage and Organization: Smart Solutions for Limited Space

If you’re running low on room—or just enjoy rebuilding—disassembly and smart storage can keep your collection tidy and accessible.

🧩 Disassemble and Sort

• Break down sets and sort pieces by type (bricks, plates, wheels, etc.) or by color

• Store parts in Ziploc bags, plastic drawers, or divided tackle boxes

• Sorting by type often makes future building easier and faster

🗂️ Use Modular or Stackable Systems

• Popular choices include IKEA Kuggis bins, Hay crates, or craft supply drawers

• Use transparent containers for easy visual access

• Don’t forget to label everything for stress-free building sessions

📁 Keep Instruction Manuals Safe

• Protect and preserve instruction booklets in binders with plastic sleeves

• Makes it easy to revisit and rebuild your favorite sets whenever you like

• Pro tip: Keep digital copies as backups, too

3. Rebuilding and Customization: Keep the Creativity Going

One of LEGO’s greatest strengths is that the fun doesn’t stop when the instructions end. You can always reimagine, expand, or remix what you’ve built.

🛠️ Modify Existing Builds

• Add your own flair with personal touches—different colors, new accessories, or custom minifigs

• Transform official sets into something unique—turn a castle into a sci-fi fortress, or combine themes like pirates and space

🧱 Expand and Combine Sets

• Use extra parts or bricks from other sets to scale up your creations

• Create hybrid models by merging multiple builds into one mega-set

• Need more parts? Use LEGO’s Pick a Brick service to order exactly what you need

🎨 Create New Models from Existing Pieces

• Break down old builds and go freestyle

• Let color palettes, brick shapes, or specific pieces inspire something original

• Great for kids (and adults!) looking to sharpen their creative thinking

4. Sell, Trade, or Gift

Sometimes, it’s time to say goodbye to a set—but that doesn’t mean it has to gather dust in a closet.

🔄 Sell or Trade Sets

• Perfect for duplicates, sets you've outgrown, or ones you bought just for the parts

• Use platforms like BrickLink, Facebook Marketplace, or Reddit’s LEGO Marketplace

• Trading is a great way to swap for parts or themes you actually want

🎁 Gifting to Others

• Pass on the LEGO magic to friends, family, or local kids’ charities

• Gifting pre-loved sets is a thoughtful way to share the joy while making space for new creations

5. Tips from the Community

LEGO fans around the world have developed smart habits to keep things fun and functional:

• Sort by type, not color—for easier part-finding when rebuilding

• Store incomplete builds temporarily in containers if you’re short on space

• Keep a bin labeled “spare parts” to centralize leftovers from different sets

• Before disassembling a favorite display, take photos to document your build history

Summary Table: What to Do with LEGO Sets After Building